’CYCLING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XVIII, 29 October 1898, Page 559

’CYCLING.

Entries for the Thames Cycling Club’s sports close to-night at ten o’clock, at the Metropolitan Hotel, Auckland. The entries received for the Auckland Cycling Club's Carnival at the Exhibition Ground, on the 29th inst. may be considered very satisfactory. For the most important event, the Auckland Whee Race, twenty-five riders have entered, four of whom are from Dunedin, three from Canterbury, and three from Wellington, while Thames. DannevitT:e, Hamilton, and Kaeo also send representatives. Of local entries there are ten, the pick of the Auckland Cycling Club. With such riders as A. C. Middleton, Barker, Sutherland, Maxwell. Wall, and Tierney, not to mention other good men, the race should b. a most interesting one.

Two London cyclists were guilty of a very foolhardy trick the other day. They were riding a. tandem along Euston Road. Rain had been falling for a short time, so that the wood paving was in a distinctly dangerous condition. However, the cyclists, who were both in walking dress, saw fit to wind their way among the traffic, and one of them meanwhile held an umbrella over their heads. As soon as they got clear of the thickest part of the traffic, the front rider took the umbrella in one hand, while he steered with the other, and the second man hoisted another ‘gingham,’ and so the pair travelled down the road under full spread of canvas. What a confusion there would have been in the event of a sideslip! One delegate at the N.Z.A.A.A. meeting, when supporting the motion in favour of cash cycle races on amateur athletic programmes, said, ‘lf the League had come to stay and had killed cycling under other constitutions they would have to reckon with it sooner or later and it would be better to do so at once, and make what capital out of it they could.’ Just so; but there is a good deal in that ‘if.’

The Thames Cycling Club's Carnival on November 9 will probably attract a large number of excursionists from Auckland. The p.s. Terra nora has been chartered by the Club to run a cheap excursion from Auckland, leaving on the morning of the 9th and returning to town that night. The s.s. Waitangi will also run to the Thames on the evening of ine Bth, returning the following evening. E. Reynolds is l<> give a mile exhibition ride at the Auckland Cycling Club’s Carnival, p - • d by a triplet. He should cut out tie distance in good time on ihe banked track.

Messrs J. Chalmers, A. Maxwell and I). M. Gardner (Wellington), J. McDowell (Hawke's Bay), Bennett (Danevirke), A. C. Middleton, Andrew Ralston and N. Ralston (Dunedin), the cyclists who are to take part in the Auckland Cycling Club’s Carnival on Saturday first, arrived in the northern city on Monday last. To-day (Wednesday) the rest of the cyclists are expected from the South. On Saturday last the opening run of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club took place. Close on 400 cyclists were in the procession, which started from Grey-street, fire-

bell, proceeded by Hobson-street, Ponsonby Road and Kyber Pass to Ellerslie racecourse, where the riders were regaled with tea and coffee on the lawn. Messrs Seymour Thorne George (President of the Club) and Aitkin Carrick led the procession of male riders, while the captain of the club (Mr G. Henning) rod© before the ladies.

Now that the Amateur Athletic Association have given their clubs permission to eater for amateur cyclists under the League, it remains to be seen whether the League Executive will grant their riders the necessary permission. If they really wish to encourage an amateur brunch it is hard to see how they can refuse in this case.

Dr. Jennings gave a very suggestive illustration of the position of cycling in New Zealand at the lust meeting of the N.Z.A.A.A. ‘There existed in South America a very large, very pugnacious and very vicious spider, the male of which was in a helpless condition, and was frequently eaten by the female. The League i eminded him of that female spider, and the male spider was the amateur branch of the League. The female spider eats up the Alliance, and this unfortunate male spider, the amateur branch, was vainly trying to find amateur races. These the Association were endeavouring to provide, but was not allowed to do so. Clearly the amateur section of the League must ev_eutually be starved out, and the League was looking to the Association as its next prey. No, they would dwindle down to microscopic size, and finally be in their turn devoured by the League.’ He urged the meeting to avoid professionalism and stand firmly by amateurism, and if they did this they would not go far wrong. The New South Wales League of Wheelmen has decided to make provision in its November programme for the inclusion of a race for trophy riders, should sufficient inducement be afforded—a striking contest (says an exchange) to the action of the New Zealand cash body in passing a resolution that no events under their rules be allowed on programmes which include wheel races under New Zealand Cyclists’ Alliance rules.

When last heard from J. Green was racing in Denmark, and in writing he stated that his visit to Australia this season would depend on what arrangements he could fix up at home. Considering that Green has only won one important event, the Cuca Cup, since his return to England, it is probable that the rich Australian prizes will prove sufficient to attract him to our racing tracks in November next. Good riding and keen competition may also be expected in the Mile Interprovincial Scratch Race, for which most of the crack T.eague riders have entered. The entries in this race number a dozen.

The handicap events have all brought good er tries. Twenty-five riders have entered for the half-mile, twenty-two for th.' quarter, fifteen for the mile, and fourteen for the Auckland C.C. handicaps. The second-class events have also been well patronised, while nine names are down for the maiden mile.

A story is going the rounds (writes ‘Philibuster’ in the ’Australasian) that at a certain Australian Government House, where cy .-ling is largely indulged in, a servant (recently drawn from the Governor’s up-country station) was deputed to receive some guests’ bicycles :u. they arrived, and see that they wer- “tabled during the call. At first the man in buttons was staggered as how he was to distinguish the machine's when the visitors were leaving, but after a deal of thinking. hit on the novel idea of pinning each visitor's card to the front wheel tyre. The state of the cycling visitors’ feelings car be better imagined than described when, calling for their machines, tt cj saw every bicycle carefully brought round to the front of the house with every front tyre flat on the rim. A glance at the front tyres quickly disclosed the fact that every bicycle had its owner’s card securely fastened Ic. the tyres with a pin pushed home to the head. French railway lines can afford to carry bicycles from one end of the country to the other for a penny, and American lines make a. profit out of carrying them for nothing, while British companies still maintain high prices and refused proper accommodation.

The Great Western Railway Company is making an arrangement for the comfort of travelling bicycles. This consists of a frame of light eane into which the cycles are strapped, with a canvas shield between each, so that no machine can bump up against or bruise its brother. Evidently the cyclist's grievance against the water-carts is world-wide. Here is a wail all the way from Minneapolis (U.S.A.): — Sprhikle. sprinkle, great big cart. Up and down the sloppy mart; Sprinkle, be it cold or hot. Wet or dry. It matters not. What though wheelmen wail and weep. Keep the mud two inches deep; Let ’er flicker in the flood— Streets were made for mixing mud. A gentleman of the name of Joseph Figarotta, who is in the employ of a large watch manufacturer on the other side of the Atlantic, has made an in terestiug mechanical curio .in the shape cf a miniature bicycle. Although it only weighs two ounces, and is so small that it can be tucked away in a vest pocket, it is in perfect running order. It took its owner nearly two years to complete it. working at it, of course, in his spare time. Every part of the machine is strictly up-to-date, saddle, handle-bar. pedals, and all the other parts. The wheels are furnished with pneumatic tyres. Some of its measurements are interesting:—The height of frame is J-in, diameter of wheels 1 in, length of crank g-in, with 9-in tread. A dainty lantern, with microscopic-col-oured lens, rests on its accustomed bracket. WHAT CYCLING MAY CAUSE. The gradual but certain decentralisation of the* population. A further and rapid decrease of intemperance among men. Considerable modification of the costume of both sexes. ‘Cyclists’ Rest,’ ‘Repairs,’ and ‘Surgery,’ to be the signs of the times. Among the fairest of the fair less and less fear of displaying a ‘wellturned’ ankle. Carters to learn that someone else has a right to use the roads as well as themselves. A considerable increase in the number of nursery maids, because mamma cannot take baby out on the bike. The family cycle to evolve from the depths of comic sketches to the region of fact. Policemen to be allowed to shoot ‘scorchers’ ‘right off,' as being more dangerous to the common weal (wheel) than mad dogs. N.B.—To prevent misunderstanding this is meant for a joke; though ‘scorching’ is no joke to the ‘scorched.’ General improvement in health, all round, in consequence of the inducement to take regular exercise, ami greater change of scene easily obtainable. Greater ease of locomotion among elderly people, and consequent increase of longevity. Round shoulders and narrow chests, unless the present \male fashion of riding is considerably altered. An undoubted increase in the size of hands and feet, caused by bringing certain different muscles into play; though the present generation need feel no alarm on this score. Also a broadening of the bucolic mind, as a result of closer intercourse with townspeople. And, finally, a continually increasing number of ‘Golden Penny’ cyclists, wlio like to go oui feeling that their relatives would not be ‘totally unprovided for’ in ease of accident. BEWARE OF THE DUST. ‘The Lancet’ utters a timely warning to cyclists on the subject of dust- at present very much in evidence. And tin* point of the ‘Lancet’s’ advice is: Keep your mouth shut, and breathe through your nostrils. That innocentlooking dust which you only think.unpleasaut is dangerous. Each gramme weight of it contains hundreds of millions of bacteria. Among them are pathogenic—that is, disease producing —kinds. You may during your ride inhale the microbes of pus, malignant oedema, tetanus, tubercle, and septicaemia.. But it is found that if you breathe through the nose the microbes seklom pass beyond the end of the nasal passage. As a further precaution you are advised after a dusty ride to rinse the nasal cavity with a weak and slightly warm solution of some harmless ant inept ie.